Election candidate probe bid rejected

OLDHAM Council’s chief executive has rejected an appeal for an investigation into two candidates in the forthcoming local elections.

Carolyn Wilkins — who will act as returning officer at the election on Thursday, May 22 — was contacted by a member of the public who challenged the legitimacy of Labour candidates in two wards.

The complainant said the candidates should be disqualified from standing and has since taken his complaint to the Electoral Commission and the police.

In her reply, Mrs Wilkins said: “A returning officer is entitled to hold a nomination paper invalid only on one of the following grounds: that the particulars of the candidates or the person subscribing the paper are not as required by law and that the paper is not subscribed as so required.

“The nomination papers as submitted did not give the returning officer any grounds to rule the nomination papers invalid.

“Consequently, the statement of persons nominated will include the two candidates referred to in the complaint.”